I got a 3.5 year old Bull Boxer (his mom was a Boxer, his dad was a Stafordshire Bull Terrior) named Murphy. He's a great dog with an amazing sense of humor, he loves people and loves to play. But he's a very timid dog. He's scared by just about everything. Crinkling plastic bags, a snapping fire in the fireplace, the vacuum cleaning, opening the ironing board (it makes a squeaky sound), or just about anything new and different. If he's restrained (not in his crate, which he loves) he gets very nervous and starts shaking. I tried using this method to teach him to speak (restrain him, then tempt him with something that he likes, so that he gets frustrated and vocalizes), but he just got nervous and wouldn't respond.
He never barks, and just whines when he wants attention. I'd like to be able to teach him to bark at strangers coming to the door. Right now he gets excited, because he views all people as a potential playmate, so he runs to the door when someone arrives and gets excited in anticipation of meeting a new friend, but he never barks.
Don't get me wrong, he's a very happy dog most of the time, very playful, loves people and other dogs. He's a big, muscular dog (almost 100 lbs) and while I don't want him to be aggressive, I'd like him to be more confidant than he is. I'm concerned that his fear and nervousness might manifest itself as unwanted aggression in the future.
Thanks for any help you might offer.
He never barks, and just whines when he wants attention. I'd like to be able to teach him to bark at strangers coming to the door. Right now he gets excited, because he views all people as a potential playmate, so he runs to the door when someone arrives and gets excited in anticipation of meeting a new friend, but he never barks.
Don't get me wrong, he's a very happy dog most of the time, very playful, loves people and other dogs. He's a big, muscular dog (almost 100 lbs) and while I don't want him to be aggressive, I'd like him to be more confidant than he is. I'm concerned that his fear and nervousness might manifest itself as unwanted aggression in the future.
Thanks for any help you might offer.